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L'Ile de la Tortue - Tortuga Island in HaitiPerhaps coming in handy to the 17th and 18th century inhabitants, and thus lending to its history as the pirate haven of the new world during this period, Tortuga has an almost impenetrable north side, so jutted and littered with dangerous cliffs it has garnered the name, 'Ironside'. On its beautiful southern coast, the pirate inhabitants could easily guard their island of fortune, with the inaccessible north side giving fortress at their backs.

L'Ile de la Tortue - Tortuga Island in Haiti. Tortuga in the golden age of piracy could be called the Switzerland of the pirate world. It was a common place for pirates from all over to hide their loot; therefore, it is little wonder that depictions of the small island are so numerous in various books; from James Michener's aptly titled, 'Caribbean', Valerio Evangelisti's even more aptly named, 'Tortuga' and Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes, to songs; like Styx's 'Jonas Psalter' and The Lonely Island's, 'Jack Sparrow', to movies; such as 1942's 'The Black Swan', and 1952's 'Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd'.

Given the stories that have survived through time about the infamous Tortuga pirates, it is little wonder the site is still stereotypically known for that period. In the early period, before piracy and Tortuga became almost one in the same, a French governor brought over 1600 prostitutes to the island in a bid to bring more harmony to the rowdy band of pirates.

Here is a picture of former Haitian President Tiresias Simon Sam who was born in Grand Riviere du Nord

Grand Riviere-du-Nord is situated in an historical region of the country. It is a short distance from the colonial city of Cap Haitien and the Citadel Laferriere, a military landmark.

Grand Riviere also contains the Gallifet Sugar Plantation, the most successful sugar farm in the colonial era. The plantation served as backdrop for the Haitian slave revolt, a ten-year war. A Voodoo invocation held on the plantation preceded the insurrection.

Today the city is experiencing resurgence through government projects designed to modernize the city.

Grand-Riviere-du-Nord is part of Haiti's Nord Department. Several notable facts distinguish Grand Rivière from other places in Haiti:

• It is one of few on the island that harbors many centenarians.• The Haitian Rebellion began there courtesy of a Voodoo invocation.• It has produced more presidents than elsewhere on the island.• It has been a breeding ground for intelligentsia, in particular, Negritude Movement founder, Jean Price Mars.• It has a private school rivaling elite European schools.• It contains untouched forestlands.• It delivers mountain-spring drinking water.

Grand-Goâve sustained severe damage from the 2010 earthquake. The international community rallied and sent aid relief, also participating in reconstruction work.

Currently Grand-Goâve is beset by citizen violence. A town hall meeting brought the community together to seek solutions. Many proposals have been floated to end the violence. They are under consideration, and further meetings will continue discussions for a plan of action. Deputy Laporte emphasized all factions of the community cooperate to find solutions.

Grand-Goâve and Petit-Goâve were originally one city named Goâve. The Spanish colonized it, naming it Aguava over 500 years ago. The French re-colonized it, splitting it into Grand- and Petit-Goâve.

In 2010 Grand-Goâve suffered some of the worst damage from the seven-point magnitude earthquake. Nine-tenths of its infrastructure was wiped out. The U.S. and another relief organization delivered disaster aid, remaining to assist in reconstruction. Today stability has been restored to the city and rebuilding projects continue to progress.